Lei Ann...Off Duty

*neon abstract floral print for a rainy day*

i wanted to wear something fun, flirty & BRIGHT to the marshalls spring #fabfound event the other night.  easily done with another PBxT dress in striking neon colors & abstract “kaleidoscope” type print. 

however, the rains we recently had in boston also put a damper on an *almost* carefree evening.  don’t i always have a clothing item to the rescue though?  hahaha!  this newly found goodwill treasure of a rain jacket fit the bill quite nicely :)  added some equally fun & bright arm accessories & i was on my way.  

whoops, forgot the kicks ^_^  since this was a marshalls event, i took off the shelf, probably still my *best* marshalls find EVAR!  stuart weitzman lavender cheetah print heels, but neutral enough to conform to any outfit…for $75.  oh yeah!

wearing: prabal gurung x target dress || cynthia rowley ruffled coat (via goodwill) || kohl’s multichain bracelet || stuart weitzman heels

*what i wore for a walk in the woods*

this past weekend, the hubs & spent a really nice quick weekend getaway at a resort in the catskills mountain area of NY state.  i’ll be honest, i was leery at first.  sounded too much like glorified camping to me…log cabin rooms, nowhere else to eat for miles, NO CELL PHONE SERVICE!  *gasp*…can a city girl like me who is so “plugged” in all the time actually unwind & relax?

hahahaha…turns out i can!  well, only because the property had strong wifi signals everywhere, so i was never truly “unplugged” :) guess they’re used to out of town guests still wanting to be connected to the outside world….haha!  nevertheless, it was nice to spend time outside with the weather being that perfect blend of brilliantly sunny, yet comfortably cool.  even had the foresight to bring “appropriate” shoe wear for an impromptu hike in the woods & across a creek…while still holding onto my cell phone for dear life.  talk about city folk XD

wearing: express white blouse (old) || target bralette top || wet seal  faux leather leggings || target sunglasses || kohl’s grey wedges

*a pop of color*

the most overused terms in fashion blogging (in my opinion) are “obsessed, chic, stylish, pop of color & date night.”  with that being said, on this most rainy, windy & dreariest of days, here’s my outfit featuring “a pop of color.”  hypocrite much?  hahaha!

wearing: michael kors fishermen net sweater || wet seal bodycon black dress || target neon pink bandeau || JC thigh high boots

*all that glitters is not gold*

i was cleaning up/putting away clothes in my closet & this sweater happened to fall against this dress.  i can’t believe i never thought to combine them before with all the glittery gloriousness!  admittedly, it was a little much for treating clients in my office, but my regulars are used to (& dare i even say appreciate) my extravagant wear sometimes :)  i wanted to look nice for a friend’s birthday dinner that night & i didn’t have time to go home to change.

love these old ankle booties too with all the grommet, buckle, hook & eye  & suede detail.  ever notice they don’t make booties like this anymore?  they now all seem to have zippers up the inner side.  no likey :(

wearing: express silver glitter sweater || h&m bronze/silver glitter dress || swapped silver filigree bracelet || aldo outlet earrings & ankle boots

*mustard & grey in harvard square*

a few weeks ago, i had the TV on, not really watching it, but then a marathon of one of my favorite seasons of project runway started…season 3…with uli herzner.  one of the pieces of her final collection that caught my eye years ago when it originally aired reminded me again how much i loved that combination of colors & how glittery & sexy it was.  i immediately set about looking to buy items to simulate the look.  silly me!  i had essentially all the elements *already* in my closet.  my tones ended up being darker though…more a gunmetal (than glittery silver) grey & more mustard (than camel), but i liked the result.  i’ll still try to find the exact colors to recreate her outfit more accurately…cos i’m anal retentive like that :)

by the way, i was not impressed with the first season of project runway all stars, but since uli is on the second season, i’ll DEFINITELY be watching with more interest.  i just love her designs!

wearing: vintage cape || h&m metallic sweater || cache leather skirt (ebay) || vintage tassel necklace || lela rose for payless ankle strap pumps 

*green/grey stripes plus a special guest star*

well, well…look who i found lurking about, trying to avoid his bath!  sorry little man, you can’t fight me when you’re such a little stinky poo & you know you have to go right into the tub as soon as we’re finished with these photos!  (sorry, please excuse the crazy dog lady as she actually talks to her puppy…back to regular programming tomorrow…hahaha!)

wearing:  swapped koan grey short sleeve cardigan || green/grey/black dress (random canal street NYC shop) || silver metallic heels (via ebay)

*mixing black & grey print*

weirdly into the ladylike silhouettes this days, i guess, with the more demure & longer length skirts.  am i feeling all right?  hahaha! also, here we go again with more basic tones & not a lot of color.  i’ll be honest that i’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts.  some random weekend houseguests, other people popping into town, unsettled weekend schedules with either going out of town or staying…i hate when my normal routines are pushed off to the side & right now i’m playing a lot of catch up :(  what happened to my lazy, hazy last days of summer?

wearing:  striped top (baclaren, manila) || express floral skirt || swapped earrings || zombie pendant (comic con vendor) || melissa egg wedges

*pastel pink & purple*

a while back, wendy brandes, famous, amazing jewelry designer & huffington post blogger, put the call out for what trend bloggers favored more for spring - neon or pastel?  so, oh hey, look who decidedly & definitively showed up in the *neon* column…hahaha! *what* a shock, huh?  i’ve clearly documented my love of neon again & again :)

this cute goodwill dress did let me cross over into the pastel point of view for a bit…but not *too* much.  still gotta throw in some bright & bold magenta plus strong shades of metallic grey, but this will do for today ^_^

wearing:  o’neill dress (via goodwill) || express lavender cardigan || c|a|m & DIY bracelets || skeleton cameo (via ebay) || aldo metallic pumps

*high low black & grey*

i gave a quick preview of my outfit during fiesta swap, but here’s the breakdown on the details.  i still love a high-low hemline…even after almost a year ago when the  high-low or “mullet” term was even coined :)  i think it’s just such a flattering silhouette for most body types.  i can feel comfy with a short mini type skirt, yet have all that fabric to protect my backside.  i’ve felt appropriate wearing high-lows to everything from simple backyard BBQs to fancier dress-up affairs.  if you haven’t tried this type of hemline, give it a go!

accessories:  bebe neon statement necklace || DIY skull bracelets || the glamourai double finger ring || thrifted acrylic & glass bead bracelets

sorry, i’m a little more reticent today, but i really am kind of at a loss for words.  i guess i’ll just let the pictures explain themselves :)  i had a fun, but busy weekend & now it’s just a normal type of work week.  back to the grind…and the gloomy rainy weather.  boo :(

wearing:  target high-low dress || target white (girls section) denim jacket || jessica simpson silver metallic dany platforms

*bold geometrics black & grey*

wearing:  thrifted black/grey dress || mother of pearl & silvertone cuffs (random harvard square store…old) || melissa rubber egg wedges

i love florals…i love print mixing.  *however* i don’t mind sleek & uncomplicated with bold standout geometric designs every now & again. this dress was another successful goodwill find with its cute, subtly tapered bubble skirt.  

keeping things simple, yet still with sharp lines with these “wonder woman” type bracelets…hahaha! *clink*clink*  of course…it’s hard to go sans color completely, so thankful for my bright blue toes that can be seen a mile away (via beaucage spa & salon) ^_^